The Bhagavad Gita speaks of three faces of happiness. Each is colored by the Gunas of Tamas, Rajas and Sattva, which are the three tendencies of humankind.

Tamoguna happiness is when we take delight in the pain of others. We enjoy the downfall of our adversaries and destruction of our enemies. It is a false joy, a manifestation of evil.

Ragoguna happiness arises from self-indulgence. This is what most of us seek, happiness and fulfillment through money, power, material items and sensory pleasures. It is usually exciting and rewarding in the beginning, yet becomes empty and toxic with the passage of time.

Sattvaguna happiness, the Gita teaches us, is true happiness. It arises from stillness of the mind, detachment and evenness of the emotions. It seems challenging at first and takes discipline. The rewards come slowly over time.

In Sattvaguna happiness, we seek peace and equanimity for all, we ask “How can I serve others?” rather than “What’s in it for me?”

Be Sattvic – at peace, humble, detached, accepting of what comes and goes. Stay in the center. Release the ego. Serve the world. True happiness will then be yours.

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About Bhava Ram

Bhava Ram (bhavaram.com) is a former NBC Foreign Correspondent who healed from a broken back and diagnosis of terminal cancer through the sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda. His memoir, Warrior Pose, How Yoga Literally Saved My Life, details this healing journey and is scheduled to be a feature film in 2016. Bhava is the co-founder of the Deep Yoga School of Healing Arts (deepyoga.com) and is an author, teacher, lecturer, musician and spiritual counselor. He and his wife, Laura Plumb, lead trainings and retreats in California, Europe and India.